Philippines Decommissioned AH-1S Cobra and OV-10 Bronco
3 January, 2025 OV-10 Bronco light attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. Photo: 15th Strike Wing The Philippines has decommissioned the AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters and OV-10 Bronco light attack and reconnaissance aircraft.
This was reported on the official website of the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force. On December 28, 2024, in the presence of the command, a ceremony was held at the air base in Cavite to decommission these types of aircraft. The pair of AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters had served the Philippine Air Force for a rather short period of time - about five years.
The two helicopters were donated to the country by King Abdullah II of Jordan and arrived in the Philippines on November 26, 2019. This gesture came after the Islamic State group became more active in the country in 2017, when they seized a part of Marawi City in May. And until October, the country's Defense and Security Forces fought to liberate the city.
The AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters of the Philippine Air Force.
Photo: 15th Strike Wing
The AH-1S Cobra became the first attack helicopters in service with the Philippine Army. They were used to support internal security and the fight against terrorism. They were fully replaced by T129 attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industry.
The last two of the six T129 attack helicopters were inducted into the Philippine Air Force on May 24, 2024. Meanwhile, the Rockwell OV-10 Bronco has served the Philippines for more than three decades since November 12, 1991. Initially, 24 OV-10A aircraft were transferred by the United States, which were in storage there, and later the number increased by 8 units.
During 2003-2004, OV-10Cs were received from Thailand.
OV-10 Bronco light attack aircraft and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters of the Philippine Air Force. Photo: 15th Strike Wing
These lightweight twin-engine aircraft can carry nearly 1.5 tons of cargo or weapons on 5 fuselage and 2 wing hardpoints. It can carry both free-fall and guided bombs and unguided missiles of various calibers.
It also has a 20 mm cannon or 7.62 mm machine gun and even an AIM-9 air-to-air missile.
Philippine Air Force OV-10 Bronco light attack aircraft with a GBU-10 Paveway II bomb.
Photo: maxdefense
Throughout their 33 years of service, they have been involved in various operations and missions, including fighting militants from various groups. During the aforementioned battles for Marawi in 2017, Broncos carried out 88 strikes against terrorists, thus supporting the actions of Ground Forces.
EMV-314 (A-29) for the Philippine Air Force. August 2020.
Photo: MaxDefense Philippines
In service, the OV-10 Bronco has been fully replaced by the EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft, which are part of the first phase of the Horizon 1 program to modernize the Philippine Armed Forces.
The first four of the six ordered aircraft landed at the Philippine Air Force airbase in September 2020.